Comelec sets party-list ballot listing

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set a Dec. 5 deadline to raffle off the order of party-list organizations on ballots in next year’s elections.

 Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said they would finalize the party-list groups that could run in the coming polls before determining the order of their listing in the official ballots.

“The two divisions (of Comelec) are working feverishly… on the applications that have been filed.  We have set a deadline among ourselves to allow those that would be declined to file motions for reconsideration,” Bautista said. 

The names of party-list organizations used to be printed in alphabetical order on the ballots, but there were complaints that those listed on top were given undue advantage. 

Comelec records show that there are 243 existing and new organizations that filed manifestations to run in next year’s polls. The number is higher than the 183 groups that filed manifestations in the 2013 elections.

The Supreme Court (SC) ruling that a person need not belong to the sector that a party-list organization wishes to represent had raised fears that the party-list system would allow the entry of millionaires and retired government officials.

 Parties or organizations are not required to be marginalized or underrepresented before they can join in the party-list race, the SC ruling added.